UXBBA Plus Some Other Fun

Always nice to start the week with a holiday day!

As always the cats got me up early but I lollygagged around and didn't rush out, finally getting out the door at 8:00. It had rained overnight and the air was sticky and heavy. Ran out into the Cathance and then finished up with a few road miles. Legs were tired. (8.0 miles)

After lunch, we headed over to Woodward Point for a walk. The skies had cleared and temps had risen. A beautiful summer afternoon. And such a pretty piece of property. (2.3 miles walked)

The plan was for leftovers for dinner but as I was getting ready to turn on the oven, the skies darkened, the wind started whipping, rain started pelting the windows, hail began to fall, the lights flickered and then went out. Whew.  It didn't long but it was quite an intense little burst of a storm. We typically don't lose power here, or when we do, it comes back on quite quickly but after sitting for a while, we started to ponder other dinner plans just in case. Turns out Mom and Dad lost power too, so we ordered Thai and brought it over to their place for dinner. Unexpected noodles!

It has started to get dark by the time we got home, so we got out our headlamps and Sam and I sat and read for a bit, and then around 7:30 the lights came back on. What a weird evening! 

Took the day off from running on Tuesday, and it was back to school and work. On Wednesday morning, I did not manage to get up and out for a run so I headed out in the late afternoon after I got home from work, running the powerlines loop out towards the dump. Warm and windy, and humid too. Moved one cute little baby snapper off the ATV trail - so cute! 😍  - but saw three others smooshed out on the road 😓(7.0 miles)

Thursday morning, I waited just until there was a bit of light, which is right around 5:45, to head out. Overcast and very heavy. Then some rain in the final two miles. Sweat, then rain, either way, soggy! Ran a Highland Green Road loop. (6.0 miles)

On Friday morning, it was sprinkling when I dropped Sam off at school but by the time I had dropped the recycling at the dump and made my way over to the field house, it was bright and sunny. Headed out through the Commons and looped through the edge of Coleman Farm before making my way across the street to the singletrack trails in the Landing. Decided to take one of the offshoots and see if I could figure out where it went. It wound this way and that through the woods, before finally coming out into the open between the airport fence and what is apparently hole #6 on the golf course. I followed the thin trail through the grass and ferns along the fenceline and dropped out at the road. By then, I figured it would be longer to retrace my steps then just continue via the road and the perimeter bike path back to the college, so that is what I did. A bit too much road in the final few miles and not what I was anticipating I'd be running when I headed out, but it was fun to do a bit of exploring! (11.5 miles)

Saturday was a lovely no-run day. Didn't set my alarm and didn't have to get up and out for anything meaning I had a quiet early morning. Ah, sometimes it is nice not to run 😂😉 Then Sam and I met up with the Dostie clan over at Rocky Ridge for some apple picking fun. A gorgeous morning for it!

Love these goofy girls 💗

Sam went back to Anne's house after the apple picking, so after lunch, I headed out for a walk on the powerlines and up and over Mt. A. Good to get in a bit of movement on such a nice afternoon. (2.3 miles walked)

Sunday morning plans called for both of us to be getting to Bradbury early. Me to run the Scuffle and Breaker courses before getting back to the startline of the Bruiser so that I could earn my UXBBA hoodie, and Ryan to the park around 7:30 for bib pick-up. Mom and Dad were nice enough to have Sam over for dinner and spend the night so that she didn't have to be at the park all.day.long. So, she headed over there for pizza and we had an early dinner at the house, got ourselves organized for race day and I went to bed early!

Of course, I didn't really sleep... sigh 😴 and then the alarm went off at 3:45. Ryan thought I could start at 5:45 and get back in time, but I was a bit anxious about cutting it too close, so I started at 5:35. Turns out, I could have waited that extra 10 minutes, but either way I needed my headlamp for the first 3 miles or so. It was a nice morning, relatively cool but humid. Haven't run on the trails in the dark in a long time, so it was slow going and I felt both rather anxious and uninspired out there. Weird. 

Pretty sunrise through the trees as I wound my way around the backside of the park, with one deer seen. 

Finished up the Scuffle in around 1:11, dropped my headlamp at the car and texted Ryan that I was feeling rather down. He told me I was fine and that I'd perk up once I got to the Bruiser. I wasn't convinced, but I figured I might as well run the Breaker and see how I felt. Perked up a bit as I ran along, and realized I would get myself back in plenty of time. Three deer and no people seen until about a half mile from the field, when I started to run into a few runners who were warming up for the Bruiser. Lots of people milling around registration but I ran right through and back to the car. Totally antisocial- oops! 😁 Ryan came over and helped me get my bladder refilled and chatted with me while I filled up my pack, tried to dry myself off - so sweaty! 💦, and got myself organized for the Bruiser. I had about 15 minutes to spare, with the watch reading 3:11 as I came back through the field. 

Ran into Chandra and Anne in the bathroom line, so chatted with them briefly and then lined myself up with Anne at the start. It was nice to feel no pressure at the start line, as all I wanted to do was just get to the finish, no time goals and no need to look at my watch! Just keep following the conga line in front of you 😂 Nice to chat with Anne and Emily in the first few miles, and then eventually I wound up with a few guys, including new running buddy Pete, who I chatted and stayed with from until around mile 4 to towards the end of the O trail. The Bruiser seems to go on and on forever, but I felt decent until around mile 24, at which point I realized I was a bit tired 😉😆 And then of course, there was the final 2+ miles on the O trail, which with its twists and turns and dips and roots is never ending and rather soul sucking. Managed to stay upright and not walk, but it wasn't pretty! Ha! However, as always, glad to get it done! 2:25 for the Bruiser, and 5:51 on the clock with about 5:30 moving time for the UXBBA. And hoodie achieved!! (27.0 miles)

Thanks to Lisa for the photos!

And whew, I was tired! It was a gorgeous day and after changing, I relaxed a bit, had some snacks and chatted with a few people before taking off. Mom, Dad and Sam had headed out to Potts Point to enjoy the sunshine, so I headed home to shower and plop myself on the couch. Looks like it was gorgeous out at the edge of the ocean too, even if a bit windy!

180

Doing a 180 here in terms of my fall racing. Instead of one big 100 mile loop on almost entirely singletrack trail down in rural Tennessee/Kentucky, I'll be running 4 mile lollypops on a flat rail trail/fairgrounds road in New Hampshire. 

Back at the end of 2020, when I confirmed my deferral registration into the 2021 No Business 100, I was hopeful and excited. At the start of the summer, I still felt the same. It seemed like we were turning a corner with the virus. But alas, by mid-August, I was feeling anxious and stressed, watching as the Delta variant spread and vaccinations stalled throughout the country, looking at rising Covid numbers in the south and pondering the safety of traveling. I was left with a feeling that heading to the race was just plain a bad idea. I fully recognize that running and training for a 100 is an inherently selfish endeavor. I've learned, for the most part, to accept this, as there are so many positives that come out of it all, but traveling for pleasure for a race into a high risk area seemed far beyond what was acceptable, it started to raise alarm bells in my brain, no matter how many precautions I knew I could and would take, given that Samantha is still unvaccinated. (I hold no judgement against those who are choosing to travel now; it is just not right for me. October 9th and 12 years old can't come fast enough!!)

So, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth and talking with Ryan, I decided that No Business was, once again, not going to happen for me. I was seriously bummed. I so want to run this race, and canceling for a 2nd year in a row just plain stinks. Sigh. Maybe 3rd time will be a charm? But regardless, 2021 is not going to be the year. 

As Ryan rightfully noted, I did not have to replace No Business. I could just accept that a 100 wasn't going to happen and move on. But I wanted to race this fall. So, I looked around and ended on Hamsterwheel. The complete opposite of No Business. But, part of me was anxiously excited to see if I could accomplish one of the scarier goals I have been holding inside. Could I run 100 miles in under 24 hours? Which is how I ended up on ultrasignup, signing myself up for the 24 hour version of the race. I could have gone for the 30 hour, knowing it would allow me to get in 100 miles with more certainty, but the challenge is to complete the mileage in under 24. I don't know if I can, but I'm looking forward to trying! 

Also, very fun that there will be a number of Trail Monsters there running, and that Ryan is signed up for the 6 hour! And I am super excited that Emma, incredibly nicely, offered to come be at the race and pace me. She will be my secret weapon 😍😎

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Couldn't quite manage to drag myself out of bed and into the darkness on Tuesday morning. The combination of later sunrises and back to school means that morning runs are going to need a headlamp now. This is always a tough transition, and today I didn't get it done. So instead, I found myself running on the powerlines in the late afternoon with heavy legs, feeling like I was plodding along in the heat. Sigh. Trails were nice and quiet though. (7.0 miles)

Wednesdays are a bit more forgiving, as they are late start, meaning Sam gets up at 7:30 instead of 6:30 so my runs can start a bit later. Headed out a few minutes after 6:00 and ran a road loop around town. Cool but still humid. (8.0 miles)

Hurricane Ida arrived in the evening hours, bringing with it a lot of rain. I was happy to have already scheduled Thursday as a day off from running!

Friday morning dawned cool and lovely. Sam had the day off from school, and I knew I wanted to check a few things off my to do list before lunch so that we could get out for a walk in the afternoon. So I was out early, enjoying the cooler temps and the pretty sky. Also took a lovely fall down the newish trail down the hill after Rt. 24, losing my glasses and earbud off my head and my phone flying from my pocket as I skidded downhill. Sigh. Apparently I am getting klutzy in my old age 😁😩😩😆😆 Apart from that, a good run. One pileated woodpecker seen and heard, and so many asters 💗 (10.1 miles)

After errands and getting some things done around the house, we headed out to Harpswell mid-afternoon for a hike. Temps had warmed up but there was a nice breeze, and we enjoyed a good walk around the Long Reach Preserve loop. Always such a pretty spot to visit! In the final half mile, we were treated to a few flyovers by the Blue Angels practicing for the weekend's air show. Insanely loud and some incredible manueverings. (1.7 miles walked)

Saturday morning, Ryan was headed to Freeport for the TMR group run, so I was up and out early again. Temps were in the high 50s. Ah, so nice! Cool and comfortable, and just kept things nice and easy. Ran the cart paths and added on a loop down to the river and back. (8.0 miles)

Sam had a sleepover at Abby's, so after I dropped her off down the street around 3:00, I kept going and got in an easy walk around the block. Ryan had decided 15 miles for the day was enough, so he did not join me 😂 Saw a few of the planes from the airshow flying over. (1.5 miles walked)

Sunday morning, I headed out from home around 7:00 am. I decided on an around town wander and as Ryan always comments on my long runs from home, the route might have looked chaotic in pattern, but I know the mileage enough to end up getting what I wanted, right on the nose 😉 Looped around town on the roads and added on the Highlands Trail, then up and over Suicide Hill and back out on the powerlines towards the Gone Fishing trails. Finished up with a loop around the Heath and on the school roads. Nice morning with temps in the 50s. Felt so nice. Still humid, but much more manageable with cooler temps! Felt decent. (22.0 miles)

Mom and Dad came over later in the afternoon and while Ryan and Dad headed over to Highland Green for 9 holes of golf, Mom, Sam and I headed out for a walk. We walked up into the old Liberty neighborhood and along the school roads, and had some great flyovers by the Blue Angels as they did their maneuverings during the airshow. Very cool! (2.7 miles walked)